Wadi Rum is a protected area covering 720 square kilometers of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 1700 meters and more. Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains and many conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the peoples of the desert over millennia. Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape.
To see , you definitely need a 4×4. If you don’t want to get lost, you also need a guide.
According to the Jordanians, the desert at Wadi Rum is the most beautiful in the world. Believe it or not, this place looks GREAT.
Our called this sanddune ‘moving sand’. The meaning of this we discovered when we tried to climb it: one step up, two steps down.
There are many ways to enjoy the attractions of Rum, including jeep, camel and hiking tours and you can stay overnight in a Bedouin tent and gaze at the amazing panoply of stars.
To safeguard its unique desert landscape, Wadi Rum was declared a protected area in1998 and an intensive conservation programme is now underway.
You can explore Wadi Rum in several ways: by jeep, by camel, by horse or on foot. If you want more challenging pursuits like climbing and trekking, see Adventure Seekers.
are the quickest way to see the well-known scenic and archaeological sites. There are 19 of these sites of interest and it is possible to visit any combination in a single tour. Tours start from the visitor centre, where you can choose one of 9 tour packages, lasting from 2 hours to full day. Longer trips can be arranged. Most vehicles are pick-up trucks operated by local Bedouin cooperatives. They are characterful and fun but only have modest levels of comfort. Private 4 x 4 vehicles and tour company fleet-vehicles can enter Rum, provided they follow all regulations.
One of the most often asked questions from travelers about Costa Rica besides “How much does it rain in the rainy season?” is: “Do we really need a rental car?”. The answer depends very much on you, but by describing a bit more the conditions I can make the decision easier for you!
Driving in Costa Rica is not as difficult as it seems in some frightening reports. Nevertheless it is true that the Costa Ricans that are known for a laid-back and calm attitude seem to get into a hurry as soon as they sit behind the wheel of a vehicle. They are not alone on the planet with this particularity, the only difference is that in many other places the people seem to be always in a hurry.
The roads in Costa Rica are famous for their potholes and some destinations can only be reached on a gravel road. If you plan only to visit San Jose and Jaco you may be fine with a sedan, but it is highly recommendable to . In the rainy season you will even have to cross some rivers. Even some of the main attractions for tourists in Costa Rica are only accessible with an all-terrain vehicle. The road to Monteverde is not paved and there are no plans for doing so. The local community wants to protect this unique place and does not want that to make their place accessible for huge tourist buses.
The big advantage of is, that you are independent and can make a stop whenever you want. Fruits and crafts are sold along the roads, this is always a good opportunity to have some small talk with the locals.
You better get up early in Costa Rica, because the sun goes down around 6 pm. Driving at night in Costa Rica can be dangerous and is not recommendable. Most of the roads don’t have lights and road marking mostly exists on the main roads.
The alternative to renting a car is to travel with the extensive bus system. This is a good way to see the country and meet the Ticos. There are buses going almost everywhere in Costa Rica, connections between outlying areas are limited. The capital San Jose is the major transportation hub of Costa Rica, sometimes it is necessary to return and switch the bus here. Before you buy a ticket for the bus ask precisely if this bus really goes to the destination where you plan to go. There are several towns in Costa Rica which share the same name! You can assure going to the right Playa Hermosa by mentioning the Province where you plan to travel. There is a Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste and a Playa Hermosa in Puntarenas. There are several other examples like Naranjo and San Isidro.
Traveling by bus is certainly cheaper than renting a car, but is most often slower. There are several hundred bus companies operating in Costa Rica and unfortunately they don’t always work together. This can result in an unplanned overnight stay at a place where you missed your connecting bus.
So the decision is still up to you, but it should be easier for you take it now
This video is a tour of the brand new Iberostar Rose Hall in Montego Bay Jamaica. WildTravelDeals.com is your source for the best vacations. 866-329-7157
The sun and the heat is perhaps the biggest reason why Florida has become a preferred living and vacationing locale, but it is also true that when it really gets hot you need to cool off. One of the nicest ways to relieve the heat in Florida is to spend a day at a water park. If you are in Orlando you can do it in style at one of the world’s first water parks, Wet ‘n Wild.
This is an attraction that constantly ranks as one of the tourist favorites in Orlando and “Amusement Business” magazine which keeps a close watch on this industry also ranks Wet ‘n Wild highly, calling it America’s number one water park.
The park has a number of attractions roughly falling into a few categories: thrill rides, multi-person rides, take it easy and just for kids.
For example, one of the most popular thrill rides is the Brain Wash. You have to climb walls of a six-story structure and drop 53 feet into a funnel where you are you swirl around amidst lights, sound and video before heading on to a refreshing escape.
Another of the thrill rides is the Bomb Bay, where you enter a bomb-like capsule and feel the floor drop from beneath you as you take a plunge down a 76-foot high, nearly vertical slide.
Other popular rides include are Disco H2O, which is similar to the Brain Wash, Black Hole which is a pitch black twisty double rider with amazing lights, and the Surge, a big, wide open flume where you ride up the sides. These are all multi-person rides and it is a lot of fun to do it with your friends and family members.
There are also more leisurely, easy-going rides where you can just enjoy getting splashed by the water and cooling off. And there is an entire kid’s park section that is just right for your kids.
A new feature for the Wet ‘n Wild location in Orlando is the Sun ‘n Sounds Performance program which offers musical groups an opportunity to perform at the water park. Marching bands, choirs, and other groups will be performing at the East Wave Deck of the Surf Lagoon in the coming year.
Here are a few details that are important to know about. The park is staffed by certified lifeguards. You may bring along your personal tubes, rafts and other flotation devices subject to the approval by the park. The pools are heated during the cooler weather, and of course the park has a Beach Shop where you can shop for sun care products, fashion items and souvenirs. The food that is sold in the concessions is the normal amusement park fare, hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ, etc.
Located on International Drive, one block east of I-4 at exit 75A, Wet ‘n Wild offers extended operating hours during the summer. The park is open year-round with heated pools in the cooler months
Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He is the proprietor of DisneyRents.com You can get great deals on at this website
The warm climate and lush sub-tropical vegetation of Indonesia provides an ideal habitat for a diverse variety of animal and bird species. For visitors to Bali, holidays are invariably themed with at least some kind of brush with the wildlife. Despite Bali’s popularity as one of the world’s favourite tourist destinations, there are still many species of native fauna that live within the in the island’s eco-system. There are also a surprising number of sanctuaries and wildlife parks open to the public which are dedicated to the preservation of some of Bali’s more high profile natives. Depending on how up close and personal you want your brush with nature to be, on Bali holidays you will have the opportunity to encounter all creatures great and small.
On the Mild Side
Like the smiling Balinese people themselves, much of the animal life on the island is laid back and gentle. From delightfully coloured finches and sparrows, to lazily swimming giant sea turtles, it seems that the phrase ‘being on island time’ refers to the animal population as well as humans.
For a magical wildlife experience with one of nature’s most delicate creations, you can visit the Taman Kupu Kupu Butterfly Park on your Bali holidays. You will be able to see many rare species of butterflies endemic to Bali, as well as watch the birth of baby butterflies and hold them in your hand. As you walk through a netted enclosure, thousands of intricately decorated butterflies hover around your head and shoulders.
On the other end of the scale, but nevertheless almost as gentle, are the wonderful elephants of Bali. A visit to the Elephant Safari Park in Taro is a totally interactive encounter and it claims to be the only place in the world to give visitors a ‘complete elephant experience.’ Guests are encouraged to wander amongst the elephants and hand feed them as they sun themselves by the lake, plus there are plenty of opportunities to experience their gentle intelligence and friendliness. You can take a safari ride through the park high on the back of your own personal elephant; or you can view the incredible spectacle of these wonderful animals painting pictures with their trunks.
On the Wild Side
Years ago in Bali, animals such as tigers, panthers and leopards lived abundantly in the forests and jungles of the island. Today, although they are still around, you are unlikely to come face to face with any of these creatures except in a zoo.
The Ubud Monkey Forest is one of the must see places on your Bali holidays. It is a unique way to see these very lively, excitable creatures interacting in a natural habitat. The macaques (the Balinese monkey) can be extremely unpredictable, so visitors are not allowed to pet them. You can however get quite close to them because although they live in the wild, the macaques are well accustomed to human presence. The cheekiest amongst them are brave enough to sneak up close to steal your lunch and once it’s gone it’s gone! From a safe distance they are extremely entertaining and their mischievous faces can be most endearing.
If a visit to Komodo Island is not on your agenda, you can still see the famed and dangerous Komodo dragons on your Bali holidays. The Bali Zoo, just fifteen minutes out of Ubud, houses a number of these fascinating prehistoric animals and you can view them safely from outside their enclosure. The dragons are actually the world’s largest lizards and can grow up to a terrifying ten metres. For a truly exotic experience, the Bali Zoo is also home to reptiles, primates, tigers, lions and crocodiles; everything you could ever want to experience the wild side of this most gentle of Indonesian islands.
Peter Vasiliou is a , specialist for key2holidays, an online tour operator offering Bali holidays as well as holidays to other destinations in the Far East; the Indian Ocean, Cuba and the Caribbean, Egypt, Southern Africa, Italy & the Mediterranean, Canada, Australia and the Pacific. key2holidays has a dedicated team of experienced travel consultants to share their knowledge and help you to plan and book your ideal holiday.Article Source: